Lawn scarifier



sept. 1, 1959 J. J. YAr-JACK 2,902,099

LAWN SCARIF'IER Filed Jan. 14, 1957 'mw-*M- INVENTOR,

JOHN d YAFaAcK BY @a #Tra/mer United States Patent iice Patented Sept. 1, 1959 This invention relates to lawn mowers or other ground or lawn treatment devices and has particular reference to a roller device that is provided with scarifying points for scarifying or agitating the earth as a means to facilitate the entry of fertilizer and the like to the root systems of the grass.

The invention contemplates a roller device to be substituted for the conventional traction roller of conventional la-wn mowers and With the roller being provided with a plurality of radial prongs that dig into the lawn to a desired depth as the lawn mower is propelled in the usual manner.

It is a well known fact, that to improve the growth of grass, it becomes necessary that the soil be agitated or scariiied in order that the fertilizer may be directed to the root systems and this invention contemplates means for scarifying the lawn and the earth in a manner that leaves a multiplicity of crevices or slots in the lawn as the device rolls thereover, aerating the lawn and providing openings through which the fertilizer may pass for direct application to the root systems. The aerating of the lawn is a recognized means for a healthy growth of grass, since plant life naturally requires a predetermined amount of oxygen periodically.

The invention contemplates a roller of tubular form that is provided with a plurality of prongs that have their ends shaped to a chisel form and whereby to facilitate the entry of the prongs into the ground while the lawn mower is propelled in the usual lawn cutting action.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters orf reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several gures.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a roller constructed in ac cordance with the invention, with supporting end plates of the lawn mower being fragmentarily illustrated,

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the roller,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the roller, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a composite perspective View of prong forming means associated with the roller.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the conventional end plates of a lawn mower, such as lawn mowers of the reel type. Adjustably connected upon the inner sides of the end plates 5 are bearing brackets 6 having journals 7. The journals 7 are obviously in axial alignment throughout the operation of the device.

Rotatably supported by the brackets 6, is an elongated cylindrical and preferably metallic roller 8. The roller 8 is open at its opposite ends and is closed by tapered plugs 9 having a pressed fit lwithin the tapered seats 10 of the roller. The plugs 9 carry trunions 11 that havey rotatable ybearings in the journals 7. The roller 48 is2 freely rotatable under the inuence of the motion of the lawn mower and the roller constitutes a traction devicefor the balanced support of the lawn mower.

The roller 8 at equidistantly spaced points has been!` transversely apertured at 12 and with each alternate aperture being at a right angle. There has been illustrated 10 groups of apertures, but it will be apparent that more orless apertures may be provided as may be deemed necessary for -successfully carrying out the purpose of this invention. The apertures 12 pass through the side walls. Engageable'r through each pair of aligned apertures 12, are cylindrical. The rods 13 are beveled at their4 of the roller 8 and are in axial alignment.

metallic rods 13. opposite ends to form chisel points 14. Each of the rods: 13 are inserted through each pair of apertures 12 so that the chisel ends 14 project beyond the surface of the: roller 8 substantially and identical distance. The means to prevent displacement of the rods 13 comprises spring clips 15 that are engaged within circumferential grooves 16 formed in the rods 13 and with the spacing of the grooves 16 being such that they lie in line with the outer face fof the roller 8, and with the clips 15 in position, the rods are prevented from taking any appreciable movement with respect to the roller. The rods 13 may be quickly and easily removed and replaced by merely withdrawing the clips 15 and sliding the rod outwardly. This may become necessary when longer or shorter rods may be found desirable in the treatment of lawns of varying conditions of soil and the apparent necessity for varying depths of scariiication.

In the use of the device, when the lawn is to be fer tilized or aerated, the conventional roller is removed and replaced by the roller of this invention. The operas tor then proceeds to mow the lawn in the usual manner. and during such mowing action, the chisel pointed prongs continuously perforate and substantially slice the soil as the prongs enter and leave the ground and also agitatcs the root system for the subsequent application of the plant food. Thus, the lawn is effectively treated while the lawn is being mowed and requires no separate scarication or agitation. After the lawn has been treated, the roller may lfne removed and the conventional roller substituted there- It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel and desirable means has been provided to effectively treat the lawn with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator. The scarifying roller most effectively loosens and perforates the soil, permitting the fertilizer to be readily washed into the ground for direct contact with the rootz systems, thus tending to eliminate dead grass, controls', weeds, helps to avoid spongy lawns that have a tendency of creating a mass of exposed runners, such as that en-v. countered in the southern area of the United States and It may be found more desirable to tirst mow the lawn prior to the.: use of the spike roller, although this is not essential andl it depends largely on the frequency of mowing. Obviv ously if the grass is permitted to grow for an unreasonable.. length of time, then the lawn should be mowed closely and the cuttings removed before the use of the scarifying; roller. In soils that are unusually hard, it probably wouldi facilitate the use of this device by either thoroughly wa tering the lawn in advance or using the device directly;

recognized generally as St. Augustine grass.

after a rainfall.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited f to the precise construction shown but that changes are.:4 contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined.'

claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and. dSir to, Secured. by Letters Patent is:

A lawn scarifying device for lawn mowers that coniprises a ground engaging rol-ler that is freely rotatable rlibsarrings carried-by` endplates, ofi the mower, thesaidy rollegs bein-g of; tubular form andopenraits oppositeend, tapered plugsfor closing. thev ends of'theroller, the said; plugs` being provided4 with projecting, trunnions tha-t en' gage the bearings, the roller.I beingtransversely aperturecly flgonr` sidex toV side and with,y the apertures beingy equ-idistantly spaced apart for the major length. of*l the rollers, the apertures being in rows andy with the rowsrbeing at arigh angle toeach other, cheaper-tureso'the rows being instaggeredrelation, rods extending through the apertures and1with their endsV projecting outwardly fronr the surface of the roller substantially identical distance to forni prongs, the oppositely projecting ends of each rod being beveledto for-m chisell points, each of the rods at points closely adjacent to the outer-surface of the roller being circumferentially grooved and spring clips engaging the said grooves to prevent displacement of the rods, the said clips overlying the outer surface of the roller.

References Citedin the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 895,842 ChambersLJr. Aug, 11, 1908 1,145,653 Anderson July 6, 1915 1,532,986 Branson Apr. 7, 1925 1,915,640 Alsaker J'une 27, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 433,255 Great Britain of 1935 

